How happy

a CLIL English
teacher are you?
How happy a CLIL English
teacher
are you?
By Rosie Tanner
by Rosie Tanner
Cambridge University Press 2012

Cambridge University Press 2012

What is CLIL?
CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) is very much
alive and kicking in education. In fact, nowadays in primary,
secondary, vocational and higher education all over the world, CLIL
is hot. Secondary school Biology and History teachers, teachers of
Car Mechanics, lecturers in Veterinary Science and primary school
teachers teaching children about the environment are all starting to
'do' CLIL, i.e. to teach their subject through English. For these
teachers, it means studying hard to improve their own level of
English. It also means that they are starting to see themselves
more as English teachers: they are learning about how English is
learned and about how to apply this knowledge to teaching their
own subject through English.

CLIL in ELT: a new role for English teachers

So, where does CLIL stand in English Language Teaching and what
does this mean for English language teachers? In some countries,
ELT is also becoming CLIL, as English teachers are already being
asked to teach another subject, e.g. Biology, through English, or to
teach part of the primary curriculum in English. Other English

How happy a CLIL English teacher are you?

by Rosie Tanner
Cambridge University Press 2012

teachers are expected to take on a new role, one which often

involves more collaboration with subject colleagues to enable them
to teach their subject through English.

Measure your 'CLIL' happiness!

What does being a CLIL teacher mean, then, for you, an English
teacher? How happy are you, or would you be, in your new CLIL
role? Score yourself using the happiness scale below!

Read the ten statements and decide if you agree with each one.
Score three points if you agree. Score two points if you agree a
little. Score one point if you do not agree at all.
Statement:
1

I teach content related to the topics in my

subject colleagues' lessons.

2 I teach towards internationally-recognised

examinations, e.g. Cambridge ESOL exams
or the International Baccalaureate.
3 I teach my colleagues English, observe them
and/or give them feedback on their English
language skills, materials or tests.
4 I plan lessons and team teach with my
subject colleagues.
5 I teach remedial lessons which focus on the
language needed in subject lessons.

Score:

How happy a CLIL English teacher are you?

by Rosie Tanner
Cambridge University Press 2012

6 I discuss with subject colleagues which

language is being used in their lessons, e.g.
the vocabulary or grammar in a reading text
or DVD.
7 I discuss English language methodology with
my subject colleagues, e.g. how they can get
their students speaking and writing
authentically about content.
8 I work with subject colleagues to develop
cross-curricular projects and/or supporting
lessons.
9 I develop materials which help students to
understand and use the language in their
subject lessons.
10 I help subject colleagues to give feedback to
their students in English.
If you scored 20 or more, then you are already well on your way to
being a great CLIL teacher!

Further reading
For more information about collaboration in CLIL, see the section
'New roles: CLIL language teachers' in Dale, Liz and Tanner, Rosie
(2012). CLIL Activities. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Join in the discussion and share your score on the Cambridge
English Teacher Forum here.